June 15-16

Local Relay For Life's fundraising goal is $31,000

The Relay For Life of Hilliard is scheduled from 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15, to 8 a.m. Sunday, June 16, at Davidson High School, 5100 Davidson Road.

The Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser of the American Cancer Society. Relay events are staged at about a dozen different sites throughout central Ohio in the spring and summer months.

Superheroes will be the theme of this year's Relay For Life of Hilliard, in which teams camp out overnight and members take turns walking or running around a track or path, so at least one person is participating at all times.

The individual goal of the Relay For Life of Hilliard is to raise $31,000, said Jennifer Geise, an intern for the American Cancer Society.

Last year, the Hilliard Relay raised more than $25,000 and had 20 teams. In 2011, the Hilliard event raised about $16,000, organizers said.

The cancer society also has a goal of 25 teams in the Relay.

As of May 31, 16 teams had registered for the Relay For Life of Hilliard, Geise said.

A survivors' lap at the Davidson football stadium will open the Relay at 2 p.m. June 15. All those who have survived cancer walk or jog the opening lap.

A luminaria ceremony will begin at 10 p.m. that day. Candles inside covered bags, including tags with the names of those who have died from cancers, or in honor of those who have cancer or recovered from cancer, are placed along the inside of the track.

Throughout the event, themed laps will be held for one hour at a time including a Buckeye Pride lap, in which participants will wear Ohio State Buckeyes gear; a Poker Lap, in which participants are handed a playing card on each lap and can trade cards each subsequent lap to build the best hand; a Father's Day Lap; and an Ice Cream Sundae Lap.

"People can add one topping at a time on each lap ... hopefully before it melts too much," Geise said.

Teams and individuals participating in the Relay For Life of Hilliard may register in advance, but may also register at the event.

Participants collect pledges and each team generally schedules at least one of its walkers or runners to be on the track at all times.

The event concludes at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Musical entertainment throughout the Relay will include Flannel Shark, The Kells and 4-Finger Shot.